Thill-coupling.



No. 891,035. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. G. G. BRADLEY.

THILL GOUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED 1113.26, 1907. RBNBWBD MAY 7. 190s.v

IWW j '11@1111 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THILL-COUPLING.

Application led March 26, 1907, Serial No. 364,642. Renewed May 7, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1908.

Serial No. 431,337.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, CHRISTOPHER C. BRAD- LEY, of Syracuse, in the countyof Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to certain improvements in thill couplings inwhich the coupling pin is grasped between a fixed jaw and a movable jawunder the yielding tension of a spring vwhich operates to hold themovable jaw in its closed position to automatically take up wear, and atthe same time permits said movable jaw to be thrown into and out ofoperative position to hold and release the coupling pin in and from thegrasp of the jaws.

The essential object of my present invention is to provide a simple,practical and efficient quick shift coupling of the character describedwhich may be manufactured at a minimum cost and may be readily attachedto or released from the coupling pin by the operation of a single lever,rigid with the movable jaw.

Another object is to provide a spring adapted to bear upon a suitablecam on the movable jaw at the rear of its pivot whereby said movable jawis spring pressed into engagement with one side of the coupling pin.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

ln the drawings-Figure l is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of athill coupling embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a topplan of the same, the movable jaw being shown in both views in itsclosed position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the detached couplingjaws in their open position.

This coupling comprises essentially acoupling pin -1-; a ed jaw -Qi anda movable jaw -3-d adapted to grasp between them the coupling pin, and aspring -4- for holding the movable jaw under pressure in its closedposition.

The coupling pin -1-- is secured in any well known manner to a clip -5-on the front axle, as -6-, of the vehicle, leaving ample clearancebetween the pin and main body of theclip for the operation of themovable jaw -3 and spring The fixed jaw -2- is provided with atransverse groove or concave bearing adapted to rest upon the upper faceof the coupling pin -1-, said fixed jaw being provided with a pair ofrearwardly and downwardly projecting ears or lugs 8 at the rear of thecoupling pin -1- and normally extending some distance below thehorizontal plane of said pin.

The movable jaw -3- is pivoted by a pivotal pin -9- between and to thelower ends of the ears -8- and is provided with a transverse groove orconcave bearing -10- adapted to engage the lower side of the couplingpin, said movable jaw being provided with a rearward extension,constituting a cam bearing -1 1 for the adjacent end of the spring -4-.This cam is located at the rear of the pivot .--9-, and also at the rearof the coupling pin -1- and forms an integral part of the jaw -3, whichis provided with a forwardly projecting arm 12- underlying the iixed jawtion of the thill iron, as 13-, of which said fixed jaw is a part, saidarm constituting a handle by which the movable jaw may be swung to andfrom its closed position.

The spring -4- is secured at one end by suitable fastening means, as arivet -14-' to the top face of the fixed jaw -2- in front of thecoupling pin -1- and extends rearwardly and downwardly between the ears-8- and has a curved lower extremity bearing upon the top face of thecam 11- at the rear of the pivot --9 so as to yieldingly hold themovable jaw in its closed position under a spring pressure. It nowappears that the movable jaw -3-, engages the spring liand coupling pin-1- at opposite sides of its pivot -9-, ample space being left betweenthe contiguous faces of the jaws to permit the take-up of any wearbetween the coupling and coupled parts, as eifected by the pressure ofthe spring -4.

When it is desired to detach the jaws from the coupling pin, .theoperator engages the handle #l2- and moves it downwardly and rearwardly,thereby rocking the movable jaw --3- upon its pivot S3- and forcing thecam -11- upwardly against the action of the spring -4-, the rear face ofthe cam being so constructed as to bear upon the spring when the jaw isin its open position,

o that the spring' serves to hold the jaw either in its open and closedposition.

What I claim is:

1. In a thill coupling, in combination with a coupling pin, a xed jaw, amovable jaw and adjacent por-- hinged to the nxed jaw at the rear of thecoupling pin, and provided with a forward extending hand pieceJ and arearwardly extending bearing, and a spring on Jehe fixed jaw bearingagainst the movable jaw at the rear of its pivot.

2. In a thill coupling, in combination with a coupling pin, a fixed jawhaving opposite ears extending downwardly at the rear of the coupling7 amovable jaw pivoted to and between said ears, and a spring secured tothe i'ixed jaw and extending downwardly atvthe rear of the coupling pinbetween said ears and bearing upon the movable jaw at the rear of itspivot.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of March1907.

CHRISTOPHER C. BRADLEY Witnesses:

H, E. CHASE, C. M. MCCORMACK.

